Events this week: Festival in Lights

Cheryl A. Guerrero / Staff Photographer

The annual Festival in Lights, featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music, food, and the naming of the 2013 Miss La Canada Flintridge Court, will take place in Memorial Park from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Above, Santa Claus flips the switch to light Foothill Boulevard for the holiday season during the 2010 festival.

The annual Festival in Lights, featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music, food, and the naming of the 2013 Miss La Canada Flintridge Court, will take place in Memorial Park from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Above, Santa Claus flips the switch to light Foothill Boulevard for the holiday season during the 2010 festival. (Cheryl A. Guerrero / Staff Photographer)

EVENTS

Festival in Lights — Friday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd. The La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce and Community Assn. presents the 18th annual Festival in Lights featuring Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, who will arrive in an antique vehicle. Santa will throw the electrical switch to light up the boulevard for the holiday season. Live music. The finalists in the Miss La Cañada Flintridge 2013 will be introduced and the court named. Food will be available for purchase. This event is free, but attendees are invited to bring canned food or a new, unwrapped toy to support the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station Annual Toy and Food Drive.

Korean Culture Night — Saturday, Dec. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. Traditional Korean percussion music, dance, wedding ceremony, Taekwondo demonstration, K-Pop dance and songs will all be featured during this event, held in the auditorium at La Cañada High School, 4463 Oak Grove Drive. Following the program, Korean food samples will be served in the school cafeteria. Admission is $15. The event is sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Educational Science and Technology, the Korean Educational Center in Los Angeles, the La Cañada High School Korean-American Parents' Assn., the La Cañada High School Korean Language Program and the La Cañada Unified School District. To purchase tickets contact Sun Chung, sunnyan99@yahoo.com or (213) 880-8966; Kyung H. Lee, khlee519@hotmail.com or (213) 703-0390; or Ms. Choe, schoe@lcusd.net.

Santa's Brunch — Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 15-16, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Van de Kamp Hall at Descanso Gardens. Santa will be the featured guest when a gourmet breakfast created by the chefs of Patina is served. Guests are encouraged to bring cameras, as Santa will be available for photos. There will be cookies for children to decorate. Two seatings both days. Cost: $38 for Descanso members, $46 nonmembers; $19 children 4 to 12; free for ages 3 and younger. Reservations are required by Dec. 11 and can be made by visiting www.patinagroup.com/descanso.

ART

“Pioneers of the Crescenta Valley, the Bathey Family and Ranch” — Opens Sunday, Nov. 4. Special reception is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18. Lanterman House, 4420 Encinas Drive. The exhibition examines the last privately held ranch property in the Crescenta-Cañada Valley and its original owners, the Batheys, who purchased the property in 1881. Historical photographs and original art work of Winifred Bathey will be on display. At the Nov. 18 opening reception, Jo Anne Sadler and Greta Pruitt will speak on the topic and Sadler will sign her recent publication, “Crescenta Valley Pioneers and their Legacies.” The event is free, but reservations are required and can be made by calling the Lanterman House office at (818) 790-1421 or by emailing Melissa Patton, the museum's director, at mpatton.lanterman@gmail.com.

The Art of Michael Humphries — Through Dec. 30. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada. The show puts the spotlight on Humphries' interpretations of serene moments in the gardens. The event is free with admission. For inquiries email humphriesart@yahoo.com.

PERFORMANCE

“Holiday Pop!” — Friday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m. Featuring the Glendale Pops Orchestra, the Youth Pops Orchestra and 39 singers comprising the Youth Chorus. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Matt Catingub directs and Danielle Sadd is the special guest artist. Ticket prices range from $25 to $75 and are available at the Alex Theatre, The Americana at Brand Grand Lobby Concierge Desk or the Glendale Community College Theatre Box Office. Tickets may also be purchased at the website, www.glendalearts.org.

“A Christmas Carol” — Saturdays, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. both dates. The California Shakespeare Ensemble will stage our readings of Charles Dickens' holiday classic in the Boddy House at Descanso Gardens. Seating is auditorium-style, with blankets on the floor at the front for youngsters to sit on. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15. Seating is limited so early orders are encouraged. To purchase tickets visit ticketweb.com.

“A Christmas Carol” — Dec. 9 through Dec. 11, 7 p.m. all dates. The La Cañada High School theater department presents Charles Dickens' tale featuring Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts that teach him the meaning of the holiday. Directed by Justin Eick, who reports this production is especially faithful to its original, 1843 Victorian England setting. Staged at the La Cañada Playhouse (auditorium) on the LCHS campus, 4463 Oak Grove Drive, La Cañada. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. For more information visit www.lacanadaplayhouse.org.

The Towne Singers presents “Joy from the World” — Saturday, Dec. 8, 5 p.m. The La Cañada-based choral group will perform this concert at First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Conducted by Beth Richey, the 100+ member choir will perform holiday music by Rosephanye Powell, John Rutter, Irving Berlin, Stephen Hatfield and others. Tickets are available by calling (818) 275-4117 or online at www.townesingers.org. Ticket prices are $20 presale, $25 at the door, $10 for children, and $15 for a group of 10 or more. Church parking is free.

All-Ensemble Holiday Concert, La Cañada High School Choral Music Department — Friday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. This concert, held at Lanterman Auditorium, 4491 Cornishon Ave., will feature the LCHS Women's Ensemble, Men's Ensemble, 7/8 Women's Ensemble, 7/8 Vocal Ensemble, Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers, singing a varied program of holiday selections. The concert will also be highlighted by several student solo performances. Jeff Brookey conducts. A donation of $5 per guest is suggested. Children 11 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Angeles Chorale opens 38th season with “An Olde English Christmas” — Saturday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church in Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd. The concert will feature a selection of English Christmas favorites, featuring “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten and “Gloria” by John Rutter. With Angeles Chorale soloists, harp, brass octet, organ and handbells. Tickets $25, available online at www.angeleschorale.org or by calling (818) 591-1735.

The Jewel City Flute Choir, holiday and winter concert — Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m. In the ballroom of Lanterman House, 4420 Encinas Drive, La Cañada. The concert is free with a ticket to tour the home. For more information visit www.lantermanfoundation.org.

Fezziwig’s Festive Holiday Tea, followed by Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol” — Sunday, Dec. 16, noon. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Festive attire is suggested for this special fundraising event for the classical repertory theater. Tickets are $300, and include the tea, admission to the afternoon performance and valet parking. A portion of each ticket purchase is tax-deductible. For tickets contact the box office, call (626), 356-3100 or go to www.anoisewithin.org. Tickets are also available to other evening and matinee performances of “A Christmas Carol” throughout the month.

The Jewel City Flute Choir, holiday and winter concert — Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m. In the ballroom of Lanterman House, 4420 Encinas Drive, La Cañada. The concert is free with a ticket to tour the home. For more information visit www.lantermanfoundation.org.

“A Christmas Musical Feast” — Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m. La Cañada Presbyterian Chancel Choir and Orchestra will help the community get into the spirit when it presents a feast of familiar carols in the sanctuary. Jack Lantz directs the 35-piece orchestra and 50-voice choir. Soprano soloist Lori Stinson will present Carmen Dragon's arrangement of the stirring “O Holy Night.” The multimedia program will include movie excerpts, videos and photos of familiar Christmas images. Tyler Wright will provide commentary, humor and a little Christmas poetry. General admission tickets are $15, reserved seats are $20, children age 12 and under are admitted for $10, and a special family pack of unlimited general admission tickets is available for $50. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the church office (818) 790-6708 and will also be available at the door. The church is located at 626 Foothill Blvd.

La Cañada High School Chamber Singers — Thursday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. The Chamber Singers, under the direction of Jeff Brookey, will perform a full program of traditional and nontraditional holiday choral literature at La Cañada Presbyterian Church, 626 Foothill Blvd. Admission is free, but donations to the choral program are encouraged.

CLASSES

Women's Self-defense — Mondays, beginning Oct. 22, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The Crescenta-Cañada YMCA hosts this weekly self-defense class for women, from teens to adults. The instructor is Steve Dunning. There is a fee for this class and registration is required. For more details call Ana-Marie Schaefer at (818) 790-0123, Ext. 231.

Recreational Folk Dancing for Adults — Fridays, from 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome at this ongoing class; just show up in comfortable shoes. The first visit is free; subsequent visits are $6 each. Held at Throop Church, 300 S. Los Robles, Pasadena. To learn more, visit www.pasadenafolkdancecoop.org or contact Jan at (818) 790-8523, or janrayman@charter.net.

Music Appreciation for Adults — Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Classes begin Sept. 18 and continue through Dec. 18. Dr. Ted Stern, professor of music at Glendale Community College, conducts this off-campus course. This semester will address the topic “An In-depth Look at Six Composers — Monteverdi, Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Verdi and Stravinsky.” Cost for the 14-week class is $90. For more details, call Dianne at (818) 445-2390.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Babysitting Classes — Nov. 17 and Dec. 29, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Verdugo Hills Hospital's Beginnings family education program offers these classes for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15. Each class is a single, one-time class and those who successfully complete it earn a certificate. Classes are offered at the hospital, 1812 Verdugo Blvd. Cost is $40. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (818) 952-2272.

Little Owls Reading Nest at Descanso Gardens — Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Parents and their children ages 2 and older are invited to participate in this nature-themed story time, held at Nature’s Table in the gardens. Picture books are read aloud by Descanso staff. Free with admission to the gardens.

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